This blog is my effort to puzzle out the world. I'll write whatever comes into my head, but probably return frequently to my obsessions. I seem to be interested in the workings of democracy, economics, the functioning of social groups, the future of humanity, scientific concepts, statistical concepts, logical thinking, nuclear power, evolution, space, the environment and most everything else. I'll try to post only when I think I have my own angle on something.
Steve Sturgill links to a news story about the largest hammerhead shark ever caught. The shark was donated to Mote Marine Laboratory for which they were grateful. Unfortunately, it was pregnant with 55 pups.
I think this event might change some minds. Who knows.
7/1/2006 12:36 PM
posted by jj mollo @ 7/01/2006 12:41:00 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
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was taking a record that big of a deal? It appears to be the ONLY reason he continued to work it.
That said, having been stuck on the bottom with a school of blues over head, I have ZERO empathy for sharks. They are very intimidating.
Top predators are very intimidating, it's true, but they are not very dangerous, not really. Humans are totally unafraid to drive cars at 70 miles an hour three feet away from cars going 70 mph in the other direction. The fact that 40,000 people a year get killed in US car accidents does not keep us off the streets. The fact that 1% of sexually active Americans have AIDS does not keep us from having sex. The fact that 100 people/year are attacked by sharks should not keep us out of the water.
I have no positive feelings for wolves or lions or grizzly bears or pumas either. I'm frankly scared of them, but all these animals have beneficial effects on the their environment. They multiply niches. They exert traditional evolutionary pressures that preserve the genetic diversity of prey. There have been several papers writen on the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. Apparently, even the riverbank vegetation is making a recovery as a consequence.
That sounds like an adventure, Mal. You could work it up into a feature.
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